Apparatus for heating water.



J. E. E. NASH.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER.

APPLICATION FILED 1AII.25. IsIIs.

Patented May 23, 1916.

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@WW1/Imam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. E. NASH, OF PALMYRA, NEBRASKA.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER.

Application led January 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN E. E. NASH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palmyra, county of Otoe, and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Heating lVater; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a process and apparatus for heating water by electricity and includes the passage of the electric current through the water to be heated. In other words, the water to be heated constitutes an element of the circuit, which is broken until the instrument is supplied with water. The mechanical device employed may be connected with a water system in such a manner as to be stationary and constitute a part thereof; or it may consist of a portable de7 vice which may be easily carried about in a valise or even in a small hand bag, whereby it may be available for use wherever access can be had to the electrical current. For instance, wherever electricity is used for lighting purposes, an incandescent lamp may be removed and my improved instrument connected with the circuit by inserting an ordinary plug into the lamp socket. This places the instrument in condition for use, but no current passes therethrough until `water is supplied either by passing it through the stationary instrument or by submerging a portion of the portable instrument therein.

Speaking more specifically, the mechanical device or instrument consists of two spaced electrodes so arranged and connected that the said space is open to receive water either as a result of inserting the portable instrument into the water to be heated, as when the water is contained in a dish or receptacle of any kind; or by opening a valve or turning on a faucet whereby the water from any water system may pass into and through the space separating the electrodes. In either case, the water which constitutes an electrical conductor, forms an element of and completes the electric cir- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 4,117.

cuit, and results in the instantaneous heating of the water. Of course, the quantity to be heated must be regulated according to the size of the instrument and other conditions. Vhen the instrument is connected as a stationary device and located in the water system, the water should be turned on in sufficient quantity only to be instantaneously heated as it passes from one extremity of the instrument, through the space between the electrodes and out at the other extremity of the instrument. In this way, the water may be instantaneously heated as it passes through the instrument.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the two electrodes employed are of cylindrical shape and annularly arranged one within the other and separated by the annular space which the water to be heated enters.

Having brieiiy outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanylng drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing,-Figure l is a longitudinal section taken through one form or embodiment of the invention, being that connected with a water system and suitably supported to maintain its position. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the portable form of my improved instrument. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the same.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numerals 5 and 6 respectively designate outer and inner electrodes, the inner electrode being annularly arranged within the outer electrode, the two electrodes being separated by an annular space 7. These electrodes are preferably composed of carbon and are connected at one extremity by means of a metal sleeve 8, which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is inserted in the upper extremity of the electrode 5, which is counterbored for the purpose. The lower extremity of this sleeve in this particular form of the construction is interiorly threaded as shown at 9, and an insulating cap 10 is screwed thereinto from below. This cap is secured at one extremity (being the upper extremity in the drawing) of the electrode 6, by means of a metal screw 12. The outer portion of this insulating cap has a short l depending flange which surrounds the upper portion of the electrode 6 and completely insulates the latter fromhthe adjacent portion of the metal sleeve and also from its companion electrode 5. This insulating cap also spaces the electrodes at the top, while insulating pins 13 arranged at right angles to each other and passed through the electrode 6 near the bottom, serve to further space the electrodes and maintain them permanently in the spaced relation throughout their length.

In the upper part of the metal sleeve 8 (still referring to Fig. 1), is inserted a screw bushing 14 formed of metal and secured in place by means of screws 15, which are passed through the upper portion of the electrode 5 and the metal sleeve 8, and screwed tightly against the screw bushing. rhis screw bushing forms a socket adapted to receive a plug 16 with which the electric conductors 17 and 13 are connected in the usual manner. @ne of these conductors passes through the plug, and is connected with a metal disk 19 at the inner extremity of the plug, this disk having a central reinforced portion 20 which bears against the exposed extremity of the screw 12, whereby the inner electrode 6 is connected with one branch of the circuit. The other conductor is connected in the usual way with the metallic outer surface ofthe plug and the circuit is electrically connected with the outer electrode 5 through the medium of the screw bushing 14, and the fastening screws 15.

The outer electrode 5 is completely incased by a cylindricalshell 21 of insulating material, whichis held in place in any suitable manner. rThis material is preferably composed of hard rubber and as illustrated in the drawing, is connected with the outer electrode 5 by means of screws 15. Still referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the insulating casing 21 is surrounded by a metal casing 22 whose upper portion contains a circumferential chamber 23, which is in communication by means of openings 24 with the space 7 between the electrodes. This chamber 23 merges on one side of the instrument into a discharge spout or nozzle 25, where the water which enters the space 7 Vin the lower extremity of the instrument passes out after having been heated, as heretofore indicated. The metal casing is secured to the instrument at the top by means of a screw cap 26, which is interiorly threaded and connected with exterior threads formed on the adjacent part of the metal casing, as shown at 27. The cap 26 is insulated at the top from the electrode 5, by means of an insulating disk 28 which spaces the upper part of the cap from the said electrode.

AttentionV is called to the fact that the insulating shell or casing 21 extends below the electrodes and is provided with openings 29 which communicate with an interior chamber 30. This chamber is surrounded and inclosed at the bottom by the metal casing 22, which, however, is provided with a central opening 31 through which the water enters the chamber 30 through the valve 32, whose valve piece is equipped with a stem 33 and a hand piece 34.

The manner of heating water when this form of construction is employed, will be readily understood. Assuming that the electrodes are connected with the electric circuit, the water is turned on by opening the valve piece of the valve 32 suiiiciently to supply the instrument with water for instantaneous heating. As the water enters the lower part of the instrument under pressure, it rises in the space 7 between the electrodes and as it is iowing through this space, the electric circuit is completed and the current passes from one electrode to the other through the water, resulting in the instantaneous heating of the latter. Hence, as

. the water passes out through the nozzle or outlet 25 of the instrument, it is sufficiently hot for all purposes. By properly regulating the iiow of water through the instrument, hot water may be had as long as desired.

In the portable form of the instrument shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the electrodes as Y well as the insulating casing and other corresponding parts will be designated by the same reference characters heretofore em- .ployed when describing the specific construcscrews 38 and 39, with the respective electrodes 5 and 6, the said screws passing through an insulating cap 40, the screw 39 directly entering the upper part of the electrode 6, while the screw 38, after passing through the insulating cap, enters a metal sleeve 41, which, however, is insulated from the electrode 6 but is directly connected with the upper part of the electrode 5. The lower part of the handle 35 is formed into a socket and surrounds the upper part of the insulating casing 21 of the portable instrument. The lower part of the insulating casing extends below the electrodes in the same manner as in Fig. 1, and is provided with the recesses or openings 29 through which Their uninsulated inner extremities 36v kand 37 are connected by means of meta-l the water lmay have free communication with the space 7 between the electrodes, as soon as the instrument is inserted in the receptacle containing water, and even though the lower extremity of the instrument is in direct engagement with the flat bottom of the receptacle.

In using the portable form of the instrument, which is equipped with the ordinary screw plug 42 connected with the outer extremities of the conductors 17 and 18, it is only necessary to insert the plug in the socket of an incandescent lamp when the instrument will be ready for use. In using it, it may be inserted in any receptacle containing water, whether the same is of metal or glass. If it is desired to heat a quantity of water practically instantaneously the quantity of course should be relatively small. The object of this instrument is to quickly heat a comparatively small quantity of water at any time and at any place where the electric circuit is accessible, as where electric lighting is employed. In this form of the instrument, the upper portion of the space 7 communicates with the outlet openings or perforations 43 which pass through the metal sleeve 4l and the insulating casing 2l of the instrument. By virtue of this arrangement, there may be an upward circulation of water from the bottom to the top of the receptacle in which the instrument is inserted, thus allowing the heated water to constantly leave the space 7 as the colder water enters the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

l. A water heater comprising two electrodes secured together and suitably insulated, the said electrodes being annularly spaced and inclosed by a casing of insulating material, the upper portion of the outer electrode and the insulating casing having registering perforations to permit the free circulation of the water.

2. A water heater comprising two electrodes secured together and suitably insulated, the said electrodes being annularly spaced and inclosed by a casing of insulating material, the bottom of the said insulating casing extending below the electrodes and having its lower edge recessed to facilitate the circulation of the water.

3. A water heater comprising two electrodes secured together and suitably insulated, the said electrodes being annularly spaced and inclosed by a casing of insulating material, the upper portion of the outer electrode and the insulating casing having registering perforations, and the bottom of the said insulating casing extending below the electrodes and having its lower edge recessed to permit the free circulation of the water.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. E. NASH.

Witnesses:

MAZE KIRBY, A. EBERT OBRIEN.

Copies ot-this patent may be obtained tor tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

